9,6 million Italians are taking advantage of the arrival of warm weather to enjoy traditional barbecues by the sea, in the mountains, in parks, in the countryside, or at homes with suitable spaces. This is according to the Coldiretti/Ixè survey, which shows that more than half prefer meat barbecues (52%), 28% mixed barbecues, 12% fish, and vegetarian barbecues are on the rise, reaching 8%. While navigating restrictions and ensuring maximum safety is increasingly difficult, Italians' beach menus are also changing profoundly, with more than one in four (27%) bringing rice, pasta, chicken, or seafood salad from home, and just 5% opting for traditional lasagna. According to Coldiretti, rice, chicken, or seafood salad tops the list of favorites for lunch under the beach umbrella. Among those who pack a lunch, caprese salad (19%) and fruit salad (18%) follow. However, some people continue to list traditional, well-established recipes among their favorites, such as high-calorie parmigiana, which is still a must-have for 6%, or vegetable or pasta frittata, which remains the top choice for 9%, while just 3% are fond of tasty meatballs. Attention to nutrition, Coldiretti emphasizes, has become a priority for Italians, even on the beach, where they try to limit excesses to stay fit. The novelty of summer 2018 in Italy, Coldiretti continues, is precisely the sharp increase in the demand for healthy eating, which extends from supermarkets to restaurants, even including packed lunches, which are making a strong comeback among Italians at the seaside. Although there are no shortage of restrictions at beach resorts, the practice of home-cooked meals is making a comeback, especially on day trips, driven by a shift toward healthier eating habits that leads to careful food selection. The primary motivation, compared to the past, Coldiretti concludes, is no longer saving money but rather the pursuit of physical fitness.
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